Does anybody else do this? - Motorcycle-Journal Forums

KD57 · 04-22-2008, 07:20 AM

Tapping your brake lites before applying them when coming to a stop? I see very few people do that, but I have always done it to alert the idiot cager behind me that I am stopping. They don't always see the small lite on a bike. Out of habit I always flash them a few times. I started doing it back in the
70's when I witnessed a cager plowing into the back of a bike, when he slowed for a turn.
On the Mrs. bike, I did the conversion kit so hers automatically flashes a few times when you apply the brake.

tricker · 04-22-2008, 07:48 AM

actually i do that too

**Clint** · 04-22-2008, 08:04 AM

I guess most modern brake lights are bright enough that I don't consider it necessary. Can't hurt, though. LEO cars have them on their back window LED bars around here.

Sandman · 04-22-2008, 08:18 AM

I do this all the time. I would think this would be more of attention getter than just the constant on brake light, bright or not.

KD57 · 04-22-2008, 08:24 AM

Although I don't do it usually, my neighbor flashes his headlites if he sees a car up ahead waiting to pull out. He hit one last year that did just that.

zenn68 · 04-22-2008, 08:38 AM

I was just about to post something similar. When coming up to a curve where I just want to loose a little speed, if there is a car behind me i tap the brakes to flash them. It is annoying sometimes, if I feel that just a little play between clutch and less throttle will adjust my speed, but I have to trow in a little brake to get their attention

battypup · 04-22-2008, 11:26 AM

I do that all the time. I think the riders course I took suggested it and I have been doing it since. I was thinking about that Friday on the way home how when you do something so often it becomes instinct. I flash them every time I brake so now I don't even realize that I'm doing it, I just do.

Thundurburd · 04-22-2008, 11:36 AM

Do it all the time, even in the car.

**drgibson** · 04-22-2008, 12:10 PM

Mine is covered in mud.

kstateskier · 04-22-2008, 12:32 PM

Yep do it in the truck too! Helps keep from getting rear ended...

**inspiron** · 04-22-2008, 01:43 PM

I've got "tailBlazer" bulbs on my bike. They blink automatically, so I don't have to think about it...
Safety Electronics For Motorcycles

SVZuki · 04-22-2008, 02:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Thundurburd

Do it all the time, even in the car.

Me too!

gratefulchet · 04-22-2008, 02:18 PM

When I think about it. I should do it all the time.

wildwolf · 04-22-2008, 03:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by inspiron

I've got "tailBlazer" bulbs on my bike. They blink automatically, so I don't have to think about it...
Safety Electronics For Motorcycles

As do I. Great products...but since it takes about 4 seconds for the decaying affect to solidify, sometimes after 3-4 seconds I release and reapply.

pinky44 · 04-22-2008, 03:38 PM

Me too

LCA_koolaid37 · 04-22-2008, 05:38 PM

I tap the brakes before coming to a stop or making a turn.

I've seen some pretty tricked out Touring bikes that have wide LED rails on the back of their luggage boxes that flash automatically when the brake is applied.

Uncle B · 04-22-2008, 08:59 PM

Heavy traffic yes
light traffic no

blackie1491 · 04-22-2008, 09:49 PM

have always done it, on 2 or 4 wheels.

Even more so with the increase in tailgaters.

frostbitevinnie · 04-23-2008, 04:45 AM

Only if a there is a vehicle behind me will I flash. I had an incident last year of a girl on a cell coming up from behind while I was slowing for a stop. I could tell from my mirrors that I was gonna get mashed. I did flash her but still no slowing. I ended up having to go into the opposite flow to avoid getting plowed under, basically WOT and pass the car in front of me. I only did this as I had nowhere else to go. I really needed a hunting rifle, machine gun, any kind of high velocity weapon that day.

amvince · 04-23-2008, 07:16 AM

Yes I do it most of the time in traffic.

04-22-2008, 07:20 AM	#1 (permalink)
KD57 In The Zone Joined: Oct 2007 Bike: 2008 ZZR600 Location: Under a rock in Texas Posts: 2,524	Does anybody else do this? Tapping your brake lites before applying them when coming to a stop? I see very few people do that, but I have always done it to alert the idiot cager behind me that I am stopping. They don't always see the small lite on a bike. Out of habit I always flash them a few times. I started doing it back in the 70's when I witnessed a cager plowing into the back of a bike, when he slowed for a turn. On the Mrs. bike, I did the conversion kit so hers automatically flashes a few times when you apply the brake. __________________ The "other" ZZR rider.

04-22-2008, 07:48 AM	#2 (permalink)
tricker Top Gear ! Full Throttle! Joined: May 2007 Bike: 2004 kawasaki zzr 600 Location: rochester, minnesota Posts: 5,253	actually i do that too __________________ If anyone needs me... just PM me

04-22-2008, 08:18 AM	#4 (permalink)
Sandman Kickstand Operator Joined: Feb 2006 Bike: 06' C50 (Blue/Gray) Location: Richmond, Va Posts: 290	I do this all the time. I would think this would be more of attention getter than just the constant on brake light, bright or not. __________________ -Sandman

04-22-2008, 08:24 AM	#5 (permalink)
KD57 In The Zone Joined: Oct 2007 Bike: 2008 ZZR600 Location: Under a rock in Texas Posts: 2,524	Although I don't do it usually, my neighbor flashes his headlites if he sees a car up ahead waiting to pull out. He hit one last year that did just that. __________________ The "other" ZZR rider.

04-22-2008, 11:26 AM	#7 (permalink)
battypup Ditch Magnet Joined: Apr 2007 Bike: 2006 Vulcan 1600 Classic and 1980 kz750(project) Location: OC Oregon Posts: 170	I do that all the time. I think the riders course I took suggested it and I have been doing it since. I was thinking about that Friday on the way home how when you do something so often it becomes instinct. I flash them every time I brake so now I don't even realize that I'm doing it, I just do. __________________

04-22-2008, 08:38 AM	#6 (permalink)
zenn68 Clunked into first gear Joined: Jul 2007 Bike: GS500e Location: New York Posts: 236	I was just about to post something similar. When coming up to a curve where I just want to loose a little speed, if there is a car behind me i tap the brakes to flash them. It is annoying sometimes, if I feel that just a little play between clutch and less throttle will adjust my speed, but I have to trow in a little brake to get their attention

04-22-2008, 11:36 AM	#8 (permalink)
Thundurburd U.B's LoveChild Joined: Jul 2007 Bike: 2007 Black S50 Location: SE Wisconsin Posts: 1,013	Do it all the time, even in the car. __________________ The sum of the intelligence on the planet is a constant; it's the population that is growing.

04-22-2008, 12:10 PM	#9 (permalink)
drgibson Antebellum Mod Joined: Jul 2005 Bike: 2008 Kawasaki KLR 650 Location: Dallas, Texas Directly above the center of the earth. Posts: 10,683	Mine is covered in mud. __________________ “Please Remember to Kazoo Responsibly.”

04-22-2008, 12:32 PM	#10 (permalink)
kstateskier In Training Joined: Feb 2007 Bike: 2006 Yamaha V Star Classic Silverado Location: Springfield, Missouri Posts: 115	Yep do it in the truck too! Helps keep from getting rear ended... __________________ KstateSkier - Springfield, MO - 2006 Yamaha VStar 650

04-22-2008, 01:43 PM	#11 (permalink)
inspiron Muscle Biker Joined: Jul 2004 Bike: Blue Suzuki GSX 1400 (2003) Location: Canton Basel-Land, Switzerland (47.4493, 7.76536) Posts: 11,956	I've got "tailBlazer" bulbs on my bike. They blink automatically, so I don't have to think about it... Safety Electronics For Motorcycles __________________ There is nothing worse than aggressive stupidity. - Johann Wolfgang von Goethe blog: gsx1400

04-22-2008, 02:18 PM	#13 (permalink)
gratefulchet Newbie Joined: Apr 2008 Bike: 2002 Suzuki Intruder 1500 vl Location: Sherwood, Arkansas Posts: 9	When I think about it. I should do it all the time. __________________ "I was so much older then, I'm younger than that now." -Bob Dylan Have a good Ride, Chet

04-22-2008, 03:38 PM	#15 (permalink)
pinky44 Handlebar Consultant Joined: Feb 2007 Bike: 1983 GS 550m kat / 1991 GSX 600f Location: Nottingham,England Posts: 640	Me too __________________ Whatever you ride ride safe and keep the rubber on the ground and the shiny side up.

04-22-2008, 05:38 PM	#16 (permalink)
LCA_koolaid37 Eternal Vigilante Joined: Sep 2006 Bike: 2001 VZ800 Location: MO Posts: 1,272	I tap the brakes before coming to a stop or making a turn. I've seen some pretty tricked out Touring bikes that have wide LED rails on the back of their luggage boxes that flash automatically when the brake is applied. __________________

04-22-2008, 08:59 PM	#17 (permalink)
Uncle B Want's A New Title Joined: Jun 2006 Bike: 06 Suzuki Boulevard C50T Location: Gordon Texas Latitude: 32.54833 Longitude: -98.36889 Posts: 4,346	Heavy traffic yes light traffic no __________________ Ride Safe, Ride Long, & Have Fun Benjamin Franklin> They who would give up an essential liberty for temporary security, deserve neither liberty or security. http://www.gordontexas.net/ http://www.gordonvfd.com/

04-22-2008, 09:49 PM	#18 (permalink)
blackie1491 I took the All Bran Challenge Joined: Jun 2005 Bike: C50SE Location: Aldergrove, B.C., Canada Posts: 7,252	have always done it, on 2 or 4 wheels. Even more so with the increase in tailgaters.

04-23-2008, 07:16 AM	#20 (permalink)
amvince Sit speling cheker Joined: Jan 2008 Bike: 07 M50 Black, 06 Ninja 250 Blue Location: Frisco, TX Posts: 1,781	Yes I do it most of the time in traffic. __________________ "ALL I CAN DO IS WHAT I CAN DO"

Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)

04-23-2008, 04:45 AM	#19 (permalink)
frostbitevinnie In The Zone Joined: Jul 2007 Bike: 07' C90T 76' MT250 Location: 3rd house NW of the Depot Posts: 2,596	Only if a there is a vehicle behind me will I flash. I had an incident last year of a girl on a cell coming up from behind while I was slowing for a stop. I could tell from my mirrors that I was gonna get mashed. I did flash her but still no slowing. I ended up having to go into the opposite flow to avoid getting plowed under, basically WOT and pass the car in front of me. I only did this as I had nowhere else to go. I really needed a hunting rifle, machine gun, any kind of high velocity weapon that day. __________________ - We learn from history that we do not learn from history.- Georg Wilhelm Friedrich Hegel